Pakistan, China to launch joint TVET programs

Pakistan and China have agreed to launch joint training programs in key sectors including construction engineering, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and hospitality management as part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

This agreement was reached during a high-level visit to China by Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and Pakistan’s Co-Chair of the China-Pakistan TVET-Industrial Center of Excellence (CPTICE), from July 6 to 12, 2025.

According to a briefing at NAVTTC Headquarters, the visit was conducted under the guidance of the Prime Minister and other federal authorities to strengthen technical and vocational ties between Pakistan and China. The platform for this engagement was CPTICE, which aims to develop skilled manpower for the next phase of CPEC. In Beijing, the delegation met with officials at the Pakistan Embassy and China International Intellectual Group, where agreements were reached on vocational training, curriculum planning, and linking industry with education.

In a meeting with Tang International Education Group, the Chinese Secretariat of CPTICE, Gulmina co-chaired a session with Li Jinsong, China’s Co-Chair of CPTICE. Both sides agreed to begin programs in the four key sectors and work on mutual recognition of skills certifications with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The delegation also visited various technical institutions including Jinan Vocational College, Anhui Water Conservancy Technical College, and the Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Technician. At Jinan, the Project 210 smart manufacturing model was introduced. A memorandum was signed with Anhui College to establish a China-Pakistan Huijiang Workshop, with accommodation for Pakistani instructors under construction.

At the Zhejiang Institute, it was agreed to create a China-Pakistan High-Skilled Talent Training Center focused on smart manufacturing and e-commerce. The delegation also toured Zhejiang Soton Holding Group to observe its corporate training and employee development systems.

Throughout the week-long visit, several MoUs and cooperation agreements were signed to operationalize the TVET partnership through CPTICE. These agreements aim to develop joint training frameworks, enable international certification recognition, and align vocational training with global labor market demands.